Ukrainian drone kills one in Russia's Belgorod, governor says
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured six in Russia's southern city of Belgorod, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said early on Thursday.
Gladkov said all six injured were being treated in hospital for shrapnel wounds. Six homes suffered damage.
Russia's Defence Ministry said Russian air defence units had destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones over a 3-1/2-hour period ending at 11.30 p.m. (2030 GMT).
Twenty-nine of the drones were destroyed over Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border, with a further 16 over Bryansk region, another border region to the west.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians, something both sides deny, in the course of the war, now well into its fourth year. REUTERS

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
California governor vows to fight Trump's $5.1b high-speed rail rescission
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The announcement added yet another hurdle to the 16-year effort to link Los Angeles and San Francisco by a three-hour train ride. WASHINGTON - California Governor Gavin Newsom on July 17 vowed to fight an 'illegal' move by President Donald Trump's administration to cancel US$4 billion (S$5.1 billion) in federal grants for the state's ambitious but much-delayed high-speed rail project. Mr Trump's announcement on July 16 added yet another hurdle to the 16-year effort to link Los Angeles and San Francisco by a three-hour train ride, a project that would deliver the fastest passenger rail service in the United States. Mr Newsom said the move by Mr Trump's Transportation Department came as the high-speed rail project was on the verge of laying track, with 'active construction' under way on the initial 171-mile segment between Bakersfield and Merced in California's politically conservative Central Valley. The rail system, whose first US$10 billion bond issue was approved by California voters in 2008, has built more than 50 major railway structures, including bridges, overpasses and viaducts, and completed more than 60 miles (97km) of guideway. State Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters on July 17 he was 'poised to take imminent action' on the issue, indicating the dispute would end up in court. 'California is putting all options on the table to fight this illegal action,' Mr Newsom said in a statement. The funding cancellation marked the latest confrontation between the Republican president and a Democratic governor widely viewed as a leading contender for his party's 2028 White House nomination. The two men have clashed over issues from transgender athletes and electric car rules to the use of National Guard troops during Los Angeles protests and even egg prices. 'Legally binding agreements' Mr Ian Choudri, chief executive officer of the California High Speed Rail Authority, said that canceling the federal rail grants 'without cause isn't just wrong, it's illegal'. 'These are legally binding agreements, and the authority has met every obligation, as confirmed by repeated federal reviews, as recently as February 2025,' Mr Choudri said, adding that the program has created some 15,500 jobs. The Federal Railroad Administration issued a 315-page report in June finding the project was plagued by missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and questionable ridership projections. Choudri's rail authority has called those conclusions 'misguided', saying they failed to reflect 'substantial progress made to deliver high-speed rail in California'. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy chided the project for having failed to lay a single mile of track after spending US$15 billion over 16 years. But Mr Choudri said installing track is a final step after land acquisition, environmental clearances and construction of supporting structures. Still, the project has faced its share of setbacks. The San Francisco-to-Los Angeles route was initially supposed to be completed by 2020 for US$33 billion. But the projected cost has since risen to US$89 billion to US$128 billion, and the start of service is estimated no sooner than 2030. As designed, the system would feature electric locomotives traveling at up to 354kmh, powered entirely by renewable energy. Planners said it would eliminate 200 million miles driven by vehicles on highways. 'We have to pull the plug' A second phase of the project called for extending the rail line north to Sacramento and south to San Diego. A separate project plans to link Los Angeles and Las Vegas with high-speed rail. Mr Duffy said on July 17 that he was confident the Trump administration will defeat any lawsuit challenging the department's move. 'We have to pull the plug,' he told reporters outside the department's headquarters. In 2021, Democratic President Joe Biden restored a US$929 million grant for the project that Trump revoked in 2019 during his first term in office after calling the project a 'disaster'. State Assembly member Corey Jackson, a Southern California Democrat who has questioned the project's soaring costs, said Newsom's call to fight the funding cut could galvanise support for Democrats from organised labour and voters in the area where the first railway jobs would be created despite its Republican leanings. 'The people of San Joaquin Valley will now know that their economic engine is coming from the Democratic Party,' Mr Jackson said. 'This is also a message to our labour friends. Democrats continue to deliver these high-paying jobs. Republicans continue to try to kill them.' Mr Rufus Jeffris, senior vice-president of the Bay Area Council, a business-sponsored policy group in the San Francisco area, pointed to economic benefits associated with high-speed rail and called the funding cut unfortunate. REUTERS

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump orders release of grand jury transcripts from Epstein case
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A trial evidence image from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York showing British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell (left) and US financier Jeffrey Epstein. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on July 17 that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case, subject to court approval. 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Shortly after Mr Trump's statement, Ms Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on July 18 to unseal the grand jury transcripts. 'President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts,' she wrote. REUTERS

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs here
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Xiao Xiezhi, 43, faces three charges for allegedly offering bribes amounting to more than $400 to three NEA enforcement officers on Jan 22 after being caught smoking under a bus stop shelter. SINGAPORE - A group of Chinese nationals allegedly planned to get caught for offering bribes to enforcement officers so they could prolong their stay in Singapore while investigations were ongoing. Their plan was to obtain Special Passes and get bailed out, so they could sell illegal sex enhancement medications while out on bail, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on July 18. The mastermind behind the scheme is believed to be a Singaporean drug abuser, who has been arrested and is being investigated by the Central Narcotics Bureau. On July 18, five of the foreigners were charged with corruption. Xiao Xiezhi, 43, faces three charges for allegedly offering bribes amounting to more than $400 to three National Environment Agency (NEA) enforcement officers on Jan 22 after being caught smoking under a bus stop shelter. Xu Zhishen, 37, faces two charges for allegedly offering a bribe of $119 to two police officers on April 27 in the vicinity of Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road. Xu Bixin, 31, faces one charge for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer with $70 on May 3 to not conduct identity checks on him. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump diagnosed with vein condition causing leg swelling, White House says World Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. What is it? Asia Appointment of Malaysia's new Chief Justice eases controversy over vacant top judge seats for now Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore Singapore SPCA appoints Walter Leong as new executive director World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business Granddaughter of late Indonesian tycoon pays $25 million for Singapore bungalow Huang Chuangshun, 40, faces two charges for allegedly offering $100 in bribes to two NEA officers on June 23 after they caught him smoking in a non-designated smoking area in Orchard. Lin Liangjun, 32, faces four charges for allegedly offering $160 in bribes to four police officers on June 24 to refrain from taking enforcement action against him for his involvement in a traffic accident, by not enquiring further on his identity. All 12 officers rejected the bribes. Chinese national Xiao Xiezhi (red top) being brought back to the scene at Geylang Lorong 20 by CPIB officers on July 17. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO CPIB investigations found that the accused persons had allegedly paid their bailors to facilitate their bail and bail extensions. One of the accused, Xiao, was brought back to the scene at Geylang Lorong 20 by CPIB officers on July 17. He had allegedly handed money to bailors outside the New Cathay Hotel there. Investigations into the scheme are ongoing. The prosecutor told the court the men should not be granted bail as they had committed offences after being out on bail previously. She added they previously paid their bailors to stand as bailors for them, and there is a risk of them colluding and committing more offences. She said: 'If the accused persons are released on bail, there is a real risk of collusion, not just amongst themselves, but with other individuals who are currently being investigated.' The judge ordered for the men to be remanded without bail. Their cases will be heard again on Aug 1. One of the accused, Xiao, was brought back to the scene at Geylang Lorong 20 by CPIB officers on July 17. He had allegedly handed money to bailors outside the New Cathay Hotel there. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Those convicted of bribery can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $100,000. CPIB said it looks into all corruption-related complaints and reports, including anonymous ones, and can be contacted via the following channels: a) Lodge an e-Complaint at b) Email them at report@ ; c) Call the Duty Officer at 1800-376-0000; or d) Write to them at the CPIB Headquarters @ 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047. CPIB said where possible, the report should include: a) Where, when and how did the alleged corrupt act happen? b) Who was involved and what were their roles? c) What was the bribe given and the favour shown?